Everything You Need to Know About This Week in Food

Want to seem like you know what you’re talking about while discussing current events at the dinner table this week? Read through our essential guide to the week’s earth-shattering food news. Find out which food blogger just landed a book deal, what publication shuttered its famed food section, and why you should never, ever pretend to be a cop.

The San Francisco Chronicle plans to shutter its stand-alone food section

What happened: News broke that The San Francisco Chronicle is ending its stand-alone James Beard award-winning food section. Come February 2014, all the food content will be folded into a new lifestyle section called "Artisan."
Who cares: San Francisco residents, aspiring food writers, newspaper junkies
Further reading: Read our full report of the closure here.

Sandwich blogger gets her own book deal

What happened: Stephanie Smith, the controversial blogger behind 300 Sandwiches just landed her very own book deal. You may remember Stephanie as the woman who is making her boyfriend 300 sandwiches so that he'll put a ring on it, while at the same time setting the women's rights movement back 50 years. The book will be published by Zink Ink, a division of Random House and will undoubtedly be filled with...sandwich recipes.
Who cares: Anyone who cares about women's rights, sandwich aficionados, aspiring house wives
Further reading: Check out three other bloggers who we think are more deserving of a book deal.

Man arrested for impersonating a cop to get a Dunkin' Donuts discount

What happened: Charles T. "Chuck" Barry was arrested in Florida for impersonating a police officer, fake badge and all, all in the name of getting a 10% off discount at Dunkin' Donuts. Barry would come by Dunkin' Donuts a few times a week, even bringing his family in on the weekends, and would repeatedly ask for a discount. Once the manager caught wind of the situation local authorities were notified and Barry was arrested for impersonating an officer and improper exhibition of a firearm. You have to wonder if a 10% discount was really worth the trouble.
Who cares: Doughnut lovers, anyone considering a career as a cop, con artists
Further reading: Check out the official video of Barry flashing his badge and gun here.

Female chefs respond to Time's "The Gods of Food" issue

What happened: Last week's issue of Time ignited a discussion on sexism in the food world. The spread, which showcased a family tree of five chefs and their influence across the globe, completely left out any mention of female chefs in over 50 names mentioned. In a new piece by Time, Alice Waters says “Women are just not thought of as capable as men. Maybe a few in the pastry department rise up but that’s not even considered an important part of the meal, that’s just dessert.”
Who cares: Again, anyone who cares about gender equality.
Further reading: See the original article here, and read the female chefs responseshere.

Vanity Fair takes on turkey for their latest Food Snob video

What happened:Vanity Fair delivered their latest Food Snob video just in time for Thanksgiving. Bourbon red, standard bronze, and Spanish black ring a bell? No, they aren't color swatches from a J. Crew catalogue, they're breeds of heritage breed turkeys. The video breaks down the difference between these prized birds and the dreaded butterballs, all the while gently poking fun at bird-obsessed foodies.
Who cares: Carnivores, anyone who wants to enjoy their Thanksgiving Butterball-free
Further reading: Watch the video here and then check out Dieselboy's epic guide to cooking a baller Thanksgiving dinner.

Travel Channel just greenlighted another food show starring Alan Richman

What happened: Man vs. Food's Alan Richman is hosting a new show called Eat Secrets on the Travel Channel. Expect to see Richman's journey across America to "uncover the most unique, surprising and delicious hidden food treasures in every town. He searches for the dishes you would never find anywhere else on the planet, at the places you would never expect."
Who cares: People with a bad case of wanderlust, Alan Richman fans, state fair enthusiasts, patriots
Further reading: Read more about the new food show on Variety.

Libertarian Rand Paul fights (imaginary) doughnut ban

What happened: The FDA is phasing out trans fats, one of the leading contributors in heart disease. Many food manufacturers have already voluntarily stopped using trans fats in the past decade, including McDonald's, Dunkin' Donuts, and Krispy Kreme, but when Rand Paul caught wind of the matter he warned fellow Americans that the government is in fact coming after our doughnuts. "I say we should line every one of them up. I want to see how skinny or how fat the FDA agents are that are making the rules on this," Paul said. Classy.
Who cares: People that actually listen to Rand Paul.
Further reading: Read more about Rand Paul fighting for his right to eat donuts here.

Heston Blumenthal comes to Heathrow airport

What happened: Heston Blumenthal, the British chef behind the Michelin-starred restaurant The Fat Duck, is opening his first ever airport restaurant at Heathrow's Terminal 2. The restaurant will offer British favorites, like fish and chips, pizza and hamburgers, and everything will be served in under 11 minutes.
Who cares: Anyone who has an upcoming layover at Heathrow airport.
Further reading: The Daily Mail's got the full scoop here.

Latest News

FIRST WE FEAST participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means FIRST WE FEAST gets paid commissions on purchases made through our links to retailer sites. Our editorial content is not influenced by any commissions we receive.